ne was nigh to swooning therewith.

But he did not swoon, but bare up under the passion of pain that lay
upon him and from the issue of blood that followed what he had done.
Wherefore, after he had rested him for a while, he went forward through
the forest, tottering like a drunken man, now and then falling, and ever
anon arising again and betaking his way he knew not whither.

[Illustration]

[Illustration: A Damsel bringeth aid unto Sir Ewaine:]

[Illustration]

Chapter Fifth

_How Sir Ewaine was succored and brought back to life by a certain noble
lady, how he brought aid to that lady in a time of great trouble, and
how he returned once again to the Lady Lesolie of the Fountain._

Thus Sir Ewaine wandered for all that night he knew not whither, and
sometimes he fell and anon he would arise and go onward again. So
against the dawn of day, he began to approach the outskirts of the
forest and there, as he wandered painfully onward, he met a fagot-maker
who had a cart and who was coming, all early in the morning, into the
forest to chop fagots.

This fellow, beholding that figure of misery with a face like to wax and
a body all covered with blood, wist not whether it was ghost or mortal
man whom he beheld, wherefore he fell to crossing himself and pattering
prayers for fear. But Sir Ewaine spake, though in a very weak and
plaintive voice, saying: "Alas, good fellow! I pray you, for the sake of
God's mercy to take pity upon me and to bear me hence in your cart to
where I may secure aid and succor, else I must assuredly die all alone
in the forest."

Then the woodchopper was aware that Sir Ewaine was no ghost or spirit
left behind by the night, but that he was mortal man, and when he looked
upon that sad woeful figure, he was moved to great pity, and said:
"Alas, poor mortal, thou art in a sad plight indeed and so I will be
glad to aid thee as thou desirest."

[Sidenote: _The woodchopper giveth aid to Sir Ewaine._]

So after that the fagot-maker spread a soft thick bed of leaves in his
cart and laid the wounded knight thereon. And so he bore Sir Ewaine out
of the forest, with intent to take him to some place where he might be
cherished with care and attention.

Thus it was that a poor woodchopper of the forest lent aid and
assistance to one of the most noble knights of the Round Table and
nephew to King Arthur. As for that fellow, he wist not who it was to
whom he was giving aid, but only thought tha